Following an Ancient Example: By Lennart Konschewitz

Location: Pogradec, Albania
Date: June, 2007
Contact: Lenny.Konschewitz@everynation.org


In June of 2007 I was part of a little team of volunteers (two Germans, one Canadian, one US American) that traveled to Pogradec, Albania, in order to support a nonprofit organization called the "Nehemia-Albania Foundation". The name Nehemia stems from the biblical personality Nehemiah, who was a leader in Israel after the people's return from the Babylonian exile. He lived about 450 BC and helped to rebuild his country with practical work as well as through spiritual and social reforms. In 1991, the first relief trucks arrived in Albania. Their work and community development aid covers many needs: education, welfare, church planting, medical work, and other projects. Thus, our roles and tasks during these four days were very diversified. When we arrived in Tirana, the capital of Albania, we were right in the middle of a city which is developing into a more or less modern society. Modern and advanced meets old and dirty. Most of the roads were okay to drive one, except maybe for the fact that I as a Westerner missed the actual lines on the road that determined the lanes. Since George W. Bush had just been there a few days prior to our arrival we could still see the effort that had been put into giving him, and all Americans, the warmest welcome possible. Everywhere were posters and flags, and one big building, which was probably something like the city hall, had a huge George W. Bush portrait on it - what a view. We continued our journey to Pogradec which took us about four hours. We had to travel by car because Tirana is the only place in the whole country with a "big" airport.

Having passed through many villages, valleys, mountains, we finally arrived in Bucimas, Nehemia's headquarters. As Nehemia just finished building a brand new sports field including a soccer, a basketball and a volleyball pitch as well as track & field facilities, we brought along soccer equipment and taught many kids about technical skills and the importance of teamwork and fairness. The kids have the privilege of attending the Nehemia school were very welcoming and willing to learn from us. Some of them even spoke to us in pieces of German.

One day we drove to one of the villages which is located furtherin the mountains. We met with the children from the village, spend along time playing soccer with them, donated new soccer balls to them and just had a lot of fun. It was quite interesting to see the huge difference of infrastructure and life between Bucimas and the mountain village.

The soccer field we played on was just a piece of field without any grass left on it. However, they love the sport and truly welcomed us playing with them.

After the game we had a look at the school building in the village which is a difference like night and day when compared to the Nehemia school. Nehemia is in the process of constructing a church building which is supposed to bring light and God's presence to this community.

It was a moving experience for me to stand in the halls of what is soon going to be used for God's purposes.

The day of the inauguration was also a great success. The German embassy even sent a representative from Tirana, the mayor showed up and even more special guests plus dozens of parents and children came to open one of the finest sports facilities in the whole area. Since soccer is the big sport, especially among the guys, I wore a sporty adidas outfit and they thought I was a famous soccer player who had just come to be there for the opening :-) Well, I had to tell them that I was only a hobby player, and the only thing I could impress them with was the fact that Zinedine Zidane, one of the best players in the world, used to wear my outfit for a photo shoot (which was true!)

Moreover, the Albanian people are very hospitable and open to guests. Once we were invited for coffee at an old Albanian woman's house.

She cared so much for us, showed us around on her little farm-like yard, prepared a typical Albanian yoghurt drink for us and just seemed to be so honored to have us as her guests.

Even the hotel we stayed in was decorated and furnished in a way that made you feel like kings and queens. And if you lookd out of the window you saw dusty roads, maybe a cow being walked by her owner, and more or less dry hills.
On the mountains one can still see the thousands of bunkers that the communist regime had put up to "protect" their people in case of war. There are discussions now about whether it would make sense to use them as tourist attractions and get some money out of them.

The work that the Nehemia foundation has built up over the last years is quite amazing. They have a very nice school with high standards, and the first Nehemia University is already planned. The testimonies of the children and families who have found help and comfort through this work are so many and so unique. Of course, all this wouldn't be possible without the help of individuals and companies that believe in what Nehemia-Albania is doing. However, finding the right marketing strategy and fund raising methods is one of the challenges of Nehemia. Thus, another focus of our help in Albania was to have meetings with their staff and brainstorm about what could be improved, what needs to be started, what could be changed, etc.

Well, if you ever happen to be in Albania make sure you visit the Nehemia foundation. I'm sure they would, just like me, love to hear from you.

Check out:
"Nehemia-Albania Foundation"
has been founded by the German humanitarian organization "Nehemia Christenhilfsdienst" and the "Aktionskomitee für verfolgte Christen, AVC" both with their headquarters in Nidda/Germany. This makes Nehemia Albania part of an international relief organization with activities in more than 40 countries all over the world.